The Portland daily press., 1887-12-24

in to the kitchen, where his basket stood by
the warm stove. There is no doubt that as
an idol exacting blind submission from his
devotees, that kitten could have given points
to the original Juggernaut.
Meanwhile, the beloved tyrant sat poised
on the shoulder of his mistress. 81 am well,
thank you," Susie replied to Miss Lucilla'
question. "Juggy sneezes little" She sat
down beside the old lady. what lovely
stockings" she said, "they are fine as a
black cobweb, if there is such thing. And.
oh Miss Lucilla, you've been darning them !"
Susie drew the stocking over her plump
hand, to admire the darns. All Miss Lucil-
las carefulness of daughter of the Puritans
had been turned toward the mending of her
hose, and the result was marvellous. 1t is
needle-work of the old gentlewoman to the
wonders of medieval monkish carving; it
was equally an act of conscience.
''lt's prettier than Kensington embroid-
ery," pronounced Susie "Such lovely
stockingsw she repeated.
Now Susie Banfeld presided over the
hosiery department of a fashionable shop,
and knew how to appreciate the dainty old
hose.
"They are very DID," observed Miss Lucil-
la, "old enough to go alone by this time.
But so very, very small of their age," OBJ
jected Susie. what mite of a foot you
have, Miss Lucilla."
Gentle Miss Lucilla, in the st. Martins
summer of her life that had missed Its May
time, liked a merited compliment to the
address of her refined little hands and feet,
as well as if she were young beauty. She
bridled little, and waived the tribute by
recommending to the kitten not to let his
mistress be flatterer.
"Juggy loves to be praised, he does," said
Susie, nothing is too strong or too sweet fol-
Juggy, bless him. Was him too beautiful
for anything, kitsy?"
The question being too obvious to need re-
ply, Juggernaut merely rubbed his head
against Susie's cheek.
"Was it busy to-day at the shop?" asked
Miss Lucilla
"a perfect hive of busy bees" answered
Susie. "The customers came in crowds
especially to the fancy work and toy coun
ters; and we had spread our wax very neatly,
built to sell, you may believe. simply
thank my stars that 1 haven't to sell dolls
with one hand and tin roaming turtles with
the other as Lii Foster does; and Flora
johnson says she expects to become color
blind, matching so many ribbons and en-
broidery silks. My counter isn't so popular
just now; when people bring their children to
be fitted with stockings, the tots twist about,
and keep their eyes on the toy counter, and
tease their mammas not to wait for change
There was boy of that style to-day, about
three years old, perfect beauty but such a
mischief, and his mamma had to let him trot
off with ten cents to buy roaming turtle Sc
that she could select her stockings in peace
They were elegant, the richest stockings we
have in the store. Only think, Miss Lucilla,
they were pearl-gray silk embroidered with
very tiny daisies in silver thread, and real
lace let in at the instep. But they wern't a
bit nicer silk than yours, nor finer" Susie
finished.
81 had mine more than fifty years ago, y
said Miss Lucilla "They were bought fol
me to wear at my little brothers christening
They were white, then. Afterward l had
them dyed black; and whenever have been
invited anywhere, Ialways have felt dressed
enough, even in an old gown, to wear the
stockings my mother bought for me.
And the old lady caressed the folded stock
ings with her slender hand on which CLEANED
| an old fashioned ring Of thin red gold, sci
| with heart-shaped ruby.
"More than fifty years." commented Susie
I'm fifty years there is time for SO much t.
happen"
"And have found that in the course Of
fifty years there is much time when nothing
happens" said Miss Lucilla, seriously
.'Those are the years which close together al
we look backward The longest in passing
| they seem the shortest when past"
81 suppose So" acquesced Susie, wonder
| ing how it would feel, to be an old lady. Al
| least, Fred would be old too; so she would
not mind 1t so very much.
While the two women were musing for {
moment-the one of the past, the other o.
the future-little Juggernaut, with the irrev
erence of kitten, patted the silk stockings
which were rolled in manner to tempt hi
paw. The stockings fell from Miss Lucilla''
| knee, and the kitten went head foremos
after sthem. The spell was broken. Th'
| clock struck the hour in its deliberate fash
ion; Susie picked up Juggernaut and tool
her departure. Goodbye" she said, 'saJ
| goodnight to the lady, Juggy pet. l shall
simply dream of your darning, Miss Lu
| ella"
"You must let me do a little of 1t for you
sometime, my DEAR" replied the old gentle
woman, with pulsation of refined pleasure
| in the power to do little act of gracious
| ness
IF / am ever rich enough to have sill
stockings, and dance enough to wear then
out" laughed Susie, 81 shall remember you
promise. Come, Juggy, and have his sup
| per-"
The kitten nestled close to Susie's neck
"Ehl take your claws out of my ruche," sh'
cried. Haven't told you never, no never
to have pins in your toes for me, my precious
Juggy?"
And down the staircase she went murmur
| ing praises to which the idol responded will
| purring.
IL.
The shop where Susie Banfeld was EN-
ployed had been made glorious with Christ
mas goods. Crystal, many-faceted in odo
| bottles and vinaigrettes, beveled for the edg'
| Of the polished plate of mirrors, sent rain
| bow lights across to the counter where thu
laces lay like frost under the capricious play